Originally Posted by DJL
I have been a dedicated user since DOS ver. 1.4. 2025 Audiophile is my LAST purchase. FLAC is nothing more than a tarted up MP3 file. I'm 72, but I still have a good set of ears and IMHO, FLAC just does not stand up to .WAV files. Bottom mids and below sound like mush! This is NOT audiophile! I have lived long enough to see the concept of "new and improved" suck! Frankly a product is either "new" or it is "improved" but, not both. Usually it means the product has been cheapened

We can argue all day long regarding whether or not the average person can hear the difference between a well recorded WAV file at 44.1 kHz or higher resolutions, can be perceived. FLAC files claim to be "lossless". Nothing is said regarding whether or not artifacts are created in this process. That is my issue with FLAC. MP3 files are adequate for quickie conversions to share with someone to give an opinion regarding layout and musical content and construction, but we all know they are not audiophile quality.

Also I have been increasingly disappointed with support. When I call in and an issue is beyond the support person's ability to answer, I can understand the need for research to the problem. I am told that "Someone will get back to me." and that is fine except the last 3 times NO ONE has gotten back to me.

So with the demise of WAV files and 3 times lack of promised support, I bid Goodbye to BIAB.
When I tested several compressed formats some years ago, I compressed WAV files to FLAC, decompressed those FLAC files to new WAV files and did a binary comparisons. The original and recreated WAV files were binary identical.

I have heard people say that some FLAC codecs are suspect/flawed, but I haven't experienced that myself.

Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
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